Parallels Desktop | User's Guide

Parallels Tools for Linux

To install Parallels Tools for Linux, you must have the following packages:

• gcc;
• make;
• kernel development package; and
• checkpolicy (for SELinux-enabled systems).

You may also need the following optional packages:

• dkms;
• HP Color LaserJet 8500 Postscript driver.

The Parallels Tools installer installs these packages automatically from the distribution repository. However, if the package repository is not configured or not available, you need to install all the mandatory packages manually. To learn how to do this, please refer to the Linux distribution documentation.

Preparing for installation

Before installing Parallels Tools in a Linux virtual machine, perform the following actions:

• Close all applications running on the virtual machine.
• If you use a 3D accelerated window manager, disable it.
• Make sure that you have all the mandatory packages available in the system.

Installing Parallels Tools in the most recent versions of Linux systems

If you have one of the most recent versions of Linux OSs (Ubuntu, Fedora) with graphical interface, the prl-tools-lin.iso image file will be mounted automatically after you connect it to the CD/DVD drive. To install Parallels Tools, do the following:

1. Start the virtual machine and log in to the graphical session.
2. When the operating system boots up, click Actions and choose Install Parallels Tools.
   Note: If the Install Parallels Tools option is grayed out, make sure that your operating system complies with the requirements listed above.

   The prl-tools-lin.iso image file will be mounted to the virtual machine's CD/DVD drive.

   You can connect and mount the Parallels Tools ISO image file manually. In the Mac menu bar, click Devices > CD/DVD > Connect Image. In the Finder window, go to the hard disk folder (normally named "Macintosh HD"), select the /Applications/Parallels Desktop.app/Contents/Resources/Tools/ folder, select the prl-tools-lin.iso file, and click Open to connect it to the virtual machine.

3. Once the Parallels Tools ISO image is automatically mounted, open the window with the Parallels Tools volume.
4. Double-click the install-gui file. The graphical installation of Parallels Tools for Linux starts.
5. Enter the proper su or sudo credentials to install Parallels Tools under the root.
6. When the installation of Parallels Tools is complete, restart your virtual machine.

Installing Parallels Tools in other versions of Linux guest OSs

To install Parallels Tools in the older versions of Linux OSs or systems without graphical interface, you have to mount the prl-tools-lin.iso image file manually. Do the following:

1. Start the virtual machine.
2. When the guest OS boots up, choose Install Parallels Tools from the Actions menu.
   Note: If the Install Parallels Tools option is grayed out, make sure that your operating system complies with the requirements for Parallels Tools installation.

   The prl-tools-lin.iso image file will be connected to the virtual machine's CD/DVD drive.

3. Start a terminal in your Linux guest OS. Type the following command to gain the root privileges:

   su

4. Check if the Parallels Tools CD image is mounted by entering

   mount | grep iso9660

   If this command does not return anything, proceed to the next step.

   If this command returns anything like

   /dev/cdrom on /media/cdrom type iso9660 (ro,exec,nosuid,nodev,uid=0),

   skip the next step and proceed to the following one.

   If this command returns anything like

   /dev/cdrom on /media/cdrom type iso9660 (ro,noexec,nosuid,nodev,uid=0)

   with the noexec option present in parentheses, you need to unmount the disc using the following command and then proceed to the next step:

   umount /dev/cdrom

5. To mount the Parallels Tools installation disc image, enter the following:

   mount -o exec /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom

   Note: /dev/cdrom is the virtual machine's CD/DVD drive and /media/cdrom is the mount point for this device. In some of the Linux operating systems the virtual CD/DVD drive may appear as /dev/hdb and the mount point /mnt/cdrom. Some Linux OSs do not have the CD/DVD drive mount point. In this case, you should create the mount point directory manually.
6. When the installation disc image is mounted, change the directory to the CD/DVD drive directory using

   cd /media/cdrom/

7. In the CD/DVD drive directory, enter the following to launch Parallels Tools installation:

   ./install

   Note: You must have the root privileges to run this command.
8. Follow the Parallels Tools Installer instructions to complete the installation.
9. When the installation of Parallels Tools is complete, restart your virtual machine.
   Note: If X Server fails to start in your virtual machine, you can install Parallels Tools manually in text mode.

To edit the settings of Parallels Tools installed in your virtual machine, use the Options tab in the Virtual Machine Configuration dialog.

How to check if Parallels Tools have been installed

You can easily confirm whether Parallels Tools were installed. Start your virtual machine and look at the status bar of its window. If the tip "Press Ctrl + Alt to release the mouse and keyboard" appears in the status bar of the virtual machine's window, this means that Parallels Tools were not installed. When Parallels Tools are installed, you do not need to press any key to release the mouse and keyboard - they are released automatically.

Troubleshooting

Parallels Tools may fail to install because not all mandatory packages are available. Check the /var/log/parallels-tools-install.log file in the guest OS for error messages, install the missing packages and try to install Parallels Tools again.

For more information on installing Parallels Tools, please refer to the Parallels Knowledge Base available at http://kb.parallels.com.

Update Parallels Tools

If a newer version of Parallels Tools for Linux is available, the Parallels Tools Installation Agent window appears. You're prompted to choose the command to gain root privileges and enter the password (if su - root password, if sudo - your user's password). After that, Parallels Tools update automatically.

Reinstall Parallels Tools

To reinstall Parallels Tools in Linux, first remove Parallels Tools and then install them once again.